The Holy One calls to me this morning. I hear His sweet voice speak out of the darkness in a whisper of love. "Be encouraged! Remember the end of the story.....and they lived happily ever after".
A lot of things are happening in our world that throws mud on the last chapter of this great book of life. Chapter after chapter of the struggling masses of humanity on their life journey through the temporal place called earth. More and greater challenges seem to be over every hill and even if we conquer one, there is always another one bigger than the last.
All or most of us are looking for a respite from the pressures and a safe place to just catch our breath. The demon army out to destroy mankind is not unlike that depicted in the epic story, "Lord of the Rings". Humanity looks for safety and a place to hide. As I begin to ponder our plight, the Holy One speaks again:
"The traditions of men are not sufficient and hold no safety for those hiding under them. This battle is too fierce and the stakes are too high to remain in a rotting safe house".
Knowing that the church and it's covering have been described as "traditions of men", the warning for me is clear. I see that the once strong walls are beginning to crumble under the relentless attack from the enemy's forces.
In Matt 24, Jesus, speaking of the times of the end said, "because of wickedness the love of many will grow cold". He went on to say, in essence, flee to the mountains when you see the abomination of things that have always heretofore been "sacred".
He said, in essence, do not go back to your comfortable house to retrieve anything. He said, in essence and the warning is clear, your life will be one of leaving the familiar. He said, in essence, there will be counterfeit or false "Christs", and false "prophets" trying to keep and lull you into a false sense of security, BUT do not be deceived. Do not allow yourself to be deceived!
The "mountains" are the place Jesus told us to flee. There is perspective on a mountain top. There is a sense of safety on a mountain top.
There is the image of Mount Sinai where Moses was told to go to meet with God; a place hidden in the swirling cloud of God's Holiness. There is the image of the Mount of Transfiguration where the Disciples caught a glimpse of the Glory that belonged to Jesus and witnessed His conference with 2 of the saints who had passed through death before.
And then, there is the image of the mountain where Jesus met with lost humanity and gave His message we have come to know as "The sermon on the mount". That message ended with a similar warning and a distinction between wise and foolish builders, between those who hear His words and put them into practice and those who hear His words and do not put them into practice.
"Flee to the mountains" can be interpreted as a directive for rescue like Lot who was told to flee from the judgement about to be unleashed on Sodom and Gomorrah. For me the warning is in the spiritual arena and the mountains are symbollic of a place to meet and find safety with the Lord.
The threats to our comfortable way of life have never been greater and the need for protection is as great as the threats. Apply that to the threats to our relationship with the Lord from these false Christs and false prophets and we will begin to grasp the magnatude of the Lord's warning and the necessity to pay heed. Our personal safety depends on our personal Savior, both now and into eternity future.
Jesus said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing". Our righteousness is as filthy rags and is no power or shield in the kingdom battle that rages. Our only hope is to go up to our mountain of safety where Christ as King is in charge of the battle on planet earth that touches our lives. Our temporal lives need Divine strategies coming from the One who knows the end from the beginning and is willing to be our on-board navigator leading the way.
These dark and dangerous days give all of us the opportunitiy to live out loyalty to our Lord and flee to the safety He provides. The eternal story of God and man has already been written with the "And they lived happily ever after" ending for the good guys. In the mean time we are called to meet the challenges and fight the good fight of faith.
As for me, I am heading up to the mountain. How about you?
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
A lot of things are happening in our world that throws mud on the last chapter of this great book of life. Chapter after chapter of the struggling masses of humanity on their life journey through the temporal place called earth. More and greater challenges seem to be over every hill and even if we conquer one, there is always another one bigger than the last.
All or most of us are looking for a respite from the pressures and a safe place to just catch our breath. The demon army out to destroy mankind is not unlike that depicted in the epic story, "Lord of the Rings". Humanity looks for safety and a place to hide. As I begin to ponder our plight, the Holy One speaks again:
"The traditions of men are not sufficient and hold no safety for those hiding under them. This battle is too fierce and the stakes are too high to remain in a rotting safe house".
Knowing that the church and it's covering have been described as "traditions of men", the warning for me is clear. I see that the once strong walls are beginning to crumble under the relentless attack from the enemy's forces.
In Matt 24, Jesus, speaking of the times of the end said, "because of wickedness the love of many will grow cold". He went on to say, in essence, flee to the mountains when you see the abomination of things that have always heretofore been "sacred".
He said, in essence, do not go back to your comfortable house to retrieve anything. He said, in essence and the warning is clear, your life will be one of leaving the familiar. He said, in essence, there will be counterfeit or false "Christs", and false "prophets" trying to keep and lull you into a false sense of security, BUT do not be deceived. Do not allow yourself to be deceived!
The "mountains" are the place Jesus told us to flee. There is perspective on a mountain top. There is a sense of safety on a mountain top.
There is the image of Mount Sinai where Moses was told to go to meet with God; a place hidden in the swirling cloud of God's Holiness. There is the image of the Mount of Transfiguration where the Disciples caught a glimpse of the Glory that belonged to Jesus and witnessed His conference with 2 of the saints who had passed through death before.
And then, there is the image of the mountain where Jesus met with lost humanity and gave His message we have come to know as "The sermon on the mount". That message ended with a similar warning and a distinction between wise and foolish builders, between those who hear His words and put them into practice and those who hear His words and do not put them into practice.
"Flee to the mountains" can be interpreted as a directive for rescue like Lot who was told to flee from the judgement about to be unleashed on Sodom and Gomorrah. For me the warning is in the spiritual arena and the mountains are symbollic of a place to meet and find safety with the Lord.
The threats to our comfortable way of life have never been greater and the need for protection is as great as the threats. Apply that to the threats to our relationship with the Lord from these false Christs and false prophets and we will begin to grasp the magnatude of the Lord's warning and the necessity to pay heed. Our personal safety depends on our personal Savior, both now and into eternity future.
Jesus said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing". Our righteousness is as filthy rags and is no power or shield in the kingdom battle that rages. Our only hope is to go up to our mountain of safety where Christ as King is in charge of the battle on planet earth that touches our lives. Our temporal lives need Divine strategies coming from the One who knows the end from the beginning and is willing to be our on-board navigator leading the way.
These dark and dangerous days give all of us the opportunitiy to live out loyalty to our Lord and flee to the safety He provides. The eternal story of God and man has already been written with the "And they lived happily ever after" ending for the good guys. In the mean time we are called to meet the challenges and fight the good fight of faith.
As for me, I am heading up to the mountain. How about you?
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
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